India’s imports from Pakistan have fallen to zero while exports continue: Data | Latest India News

India’s imports from Pakistan fell to zero in the first five months of the current financial year, even as $235 million worth of goods, particularly sugar and pharmaceuticals, were exported to the neighboring country during the period, government data showed on Sunday.

Last year, 2023-24, India imported goods, especially some agricultural products, worth $3 million from Pakistan. However, imports from abroad through official channels are currently zero, the official said, citing data.

“Trade and terror do not go together. If Pakistan needs good trade relations with India, it must stop exporting terror. India is a reliable supplier of goods and services to all major economies of the world. Hence, most countries want better bilateral relations with India. Pakistan has been left out because of its own actions,” said the official, who did not wish to remain anonymous.

Indo-Pak bilateral merchandise trade declined sharply after 2018-19. India revoked the most favored nation status granted to Pakistan in February 2019 and imposed high tariffs on Pakistani goods due to Islamabad’s anti-India actions. India granted Pakistan MFN status in 1996 without concluding a reciprocity agreement that allowed Pakistani goods at concessional rates.

In August 2019, Pakistan took a series of actions aimed at deteriorating bilateral relations with India. One of the decisions was the unilateral suspension of bilateral trade with India. However, the following month, Pakistan relaxed the ban to some extent by allowing the import of several products such as medicinal products from India, the second official said.

“Since then, bilateral trade has been affected and deteriorated further due to Pakistani support for terrorist activities in India,” he said. In FY 2018–19, India exported goods worth $2.07 billion to Pakistan and imported Pakistani goods worth $495 million. In the next fiscal year, Indian exports to Pakistan fell by 60.5% to $817 million and Pakistani exports to India fell by 97.2% to $14 million.

India imported mineral oil, copper, edible fruits and nuts, salt, sulfur, plastering materials, cotton, raw hides and skins. It exported cotton, chemicals, prepared animal feed, vegetables, plastic items, dairy products, pharmaceuticals and sugar to Pakistan.

Officials said Pakistan had no strategic importance for India’s economic growth. “New Delhi’s consistent position is that India desires normal relations with all its neighbors and is willing to resolve all issues, if any, bilaterally in an atmosphere free from terror, hostility and violence. The onus of creating such a conducive atmosphere rests on Islamabad,” said a second official.

“Since 2014, the Modi government has made several attempts to maintain good relations with Pakistan. However, Islamabad failed all such attempts by resorting to anti-India activities,” he said. In May 2014, the newly elected Modi government invited then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony. The two prime ministers then met in Ufa in July next year. The Indian Foreign Secretary visited Islamabad in December 2015 and proposed comprehensive bilateral dialogues. However, Islamabad planned a cross-border terrorist attack on the Pathankot air base in January 2016 and an attack on the Uri military camp seven months later. It also facilitated Pakistan’s Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) attack on an Indian forces convoy in Pulwama in February 2019.